Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Bringing a laptop back from America?

Author
Message
Blue Shadow
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Feb 2004
Location:
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:02
Link
Hey guys,

Apple released their new intel Macbooks this week which look REALLY hot. I'm tempted towards the highest end model, the black one with a 2.0ghz Core Duo processor. Only trouble is its £1000+ in the UK. You also have to pay a hell of a lot extra just to get it in black and a 20gb hard drive upgrade. I am going on holiday to Florida in the summer, and I think their sales tax is only 6% so I can get it a lot cheaper over there.

I have three questions:

1) Will an American Macbook work in the UK?
2) Is the warranty still valid?
3) What is the best/cheapest way to bring it back to the UK?

Thanks for your help,

Mike (Blue Shadow)



*** Formerly Code Monkey ***
Back to top
Profile PM Email
soapyfish
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Oct 2003
Location: Yorkshire, England
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:10 Edited at: 18th May 2006 23:14
Link
Don't they have different shaped plugs in America? I thought they only had 2 prongs instead of 3, or maybe that's just me. If that's the case you'd have to buy a new charger when you got back.

Not sure about the other questions but if you manage to find an Apple store when you get there I'm sure the staff would be more than happy to help.


And yes, they do look super nice.

Here's to the crazy ones.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Bahamut
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Nov 2005
Location: Brighton
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:15
Link
Quote: "I thought they only had 2 prongs instead of 3, or maybe that's just me. If that's the case you'd have to buy a new charger when you got back."



Europe have two prongs, not sure about America. You can buy an adapter really easily, though. Hardware stores and places like that will sell them.

IceBound -No, really-We're quite good.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
SirFire
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Apr 2005
Location: North America
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:29 Edited at: 18th May 2006 23:30
Link
Sales tax in florida is 7.5% (I live there). Also, I bought a universal power adapter that works with european AC, american AC, and 12v DC car power for ~$100.

We use 3-prong plugs here also, but the voltage levels and plug layouts are different, normal household plugs here use 110-120 volt (60hz), with 2 of the prongs being grounds and 1 hot. Europeans use 220-240 volt (50hz). We do have 220 volt plugs, but only large appliances like stoves or clothes dryers use them.

Back to top
Profile PM Website
Blue Shadow
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Feb 2004
Location:
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:29 Edited at: 18th May 2006 23:32
Link
Yeah thats what I was going to do; buy an adapter. I just wondered if the voltages/currents/frequencies were different in America than the UK?

Edit: Sir Fire Posted whilst I was posting. Hmmmm I hadnt realised that the voltages were that differnt. I'll have a look on the Internet now for an adapter. Anyone got any ideas on getting it through customs. I've had a couple of suggestions: send it to myself marked as a gift, or put it in my hand luggae and pretend I brought it with me.



*** Formerly Code Monkey ***
Back to top
Profile PM Email
SirFire
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Apr 2005
Location: North America
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:32 Edited at: 18th May 2006 23:33
Link
Current: not important
Voltage: higher voltage in UK (220)
Frequency: lower in UK (50 hz)
layout: US plug will not fit into a UK socket

[edit]
you were posting while i was posting, then i posted again while you were editing, thereby nullifying this post. Confusion!

Back to top
Profile PM Website
Blue Shadow
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Feb 2004
Location:
Posted: 18th May 2006 23:39
Link
This adapter may work. It's £24.99 from maplins in the UK (a well know electronics shop - kinda like radio shack in the US)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31899&doy=18m5&C=SEO&U=strat15



*** Formerly Code Monkey ***
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Richard Davey
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Apr 2002
Location: On the Jupiter Probe
Posted: 19th May 2006 01:44
Link
Quote: "1) Will an American Macbook work in the UK?
2) Is the warranty still valid?
3) What is the best/cheapest way to bring it back to the UK?"


You will need a US power adaptor. These are common-place and you can find one easily. Try a laptop supplies web site, or any site geared towards business men who travel.

The warranty will almost certainly not be valid at all.

Best way to bring it back? As part of your hand luggage (i.e. pretending you took it there in the first place).

Bite my shiny metal ass
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
indi
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 19th May 2006 03:08
Link
your current adaptor for any mac book has a module at the connector you can remove for any country.
just buy the adaptor or have apple throw one in for you
. its the same for any ipod.

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Blue Shadow
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Feb 2004
Location:
Posted: 19th May 2006 09:48
Link
I've just trawled through all the legal speak for the Macbook waranty on the Apple site and it says:

Quote: ""If the product is portable, meaning that it can operate independently without a power cord, you may obtain warranty service worldwide.""


So that means the warranty is fine. That just leaves the power adaptor and getting it through customs.

Indi, I dont quite understand, are you saying that apple can just convert the power adapter to work in the UK without me needing to buy an adapter?

Thanks again for all your help.



*** Formerly Code Monkey ***
Back to top
Profile PM Email
CzarTim
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Sep 2005
Location: The Past
Posted: 19th May 2006 11:19 Edited at: 19th May 2006 11:22
Link
I'm honostly not trying to start a war here Im genuinly interested. What would geting a mac get me a Windows PC wouldn't. I'm getting a pc for going to collage, and was planing on waiting for vista. What's a mac got thats so much better than windows?

"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." -Thomas Jefferson
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
indi
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 19th May 2006 11:22 Edited at: 19th May 2006 11:24
Link
Its worth your while to get the apple protection plan. the 4 year one.
its about $400 AUD but prolly cheaper in your country.
I saved the cost of one of my CPUS already.

from what i understand, you just remove the socket for another socket.

some images will help from the ipod family.

see the line on the second image that slides off and you can change countries plug shape with the same transformer.




If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Blue Shadow
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Feb 2004
Location:
Posted: 19th May 2006 18:49
Link
Ahhhh that really is quite clever. Another bit of genius design on Apple's part.

As to what a Mac would get you that a windows laptop wouldnt. It would get you Mac AND windows. You can dual and even tripple boot the new intel macs. You could use it as a windows laptop and get the full benefits of Mac OSX too.

Anyone know of the best way to get it through customs. Are they likely to ask if I bought it in America and then get me for the duty and import tax?



*** Formerly Code Monkey ***
Back to top
Profile PM Email
indi
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 19th May 2006 19:19
Link
Quote: "

Anyone know of the best way to get it through customs.
Are they likely to ask if I bought it in America and then get me for the duty and import tax?"


they will want an open case to xray of course.
AUD rules
if you own a business then its a tax deduction including the import tax, unless you shape a business to retail pc parts and then it becomes just another sale.

that question is geographical and would depend on your countries policies.

dont quote me on that transformer, always inspect your product before pruchase. I have only one client so far with a mac book pro, and I was drooling too much to notice the ipod connection transformer component similarity but im fairly sure its avaialable.

dont beleive the hype "ff"

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Blue Shadow
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Feb 2004
Location:
Posted: 19th May 2006 20:22
Link
I guessed they would probably want to xray my laptop. How likely are they to ask, did you buy this while you were abroad if it is in a laptop bag and out of all its original packaging?



*** Formerly Code Monkey ***
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 19th May 2006 20:49
Link
you're right, the new Mac Books are gorgeous, like you, I want one well I'll need to get meself a job first, I'll probaly get a MacBook pro with extra ram, it will be useful for stuff I normally do and when I go to uni

Yey! I removed the sig...
A Llama called Dalai
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-17 02:56:17
Your offset time is: 2024-11-17 02:56:17